Adjustable electrical condenser, resistance, variometer, and the like



Jan. 3, 1928.

DE LAVAL ADJUSTABLE ELECTRICAL CONDENSER RESISTANCE, VARIOMETER, AND THE LIKE Filed June 4, 1924 '10 comprising a small condenser which is Patented Jan. 3, 19 28;

' UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

cmmnn GUSTAF HJALMAR n1: LAVAL, or s'rocxnoLM, SWEDEN.

ADJUSTABLE ELECTRICAL CONDENSER, nns s'rnnon; vamomn'rnn, AND 'rnn Liza.

' Application filed June {1, 1924, Serial No.

connected in parallel "with a large or main condenser and which is used for fine adjustment. According to one known construction the plates of the said condensers .5 are mounted in two coaxial sets,.viz, a main set and an auxiliary set, the movable plates of the sets respectively being mounted on two shafts between which a lost motion device is provided so that the movable plate -2 0r plates of the auxiliary set may be rotated by means of a handle provided on its shaft without the movable plates of the main set being actuated, until the movable plate of the auxiliary'set have been rotated in the one or the other direction through an angle corresponding to the said lost motion. Consequently the said arrangement renders possible the adjustment of the plates of )oth set-shy means of a single handle, so that the adjustment may be effected rapidly. However, 'when it is desired to obtain a larger capacity than the auxiliary set of plates is able to effect, the movable plates of the main set must be introduced into the spaces of the fixed plates of the same set to a certain extent and then the movable plates of the auxiliary set will extend outside the spaces between the corresponding fixed plates of the. auxiliary set and consequently 40 will counteract the action of the plates of the main set. It follows that if the handle is then turned in the opposite direction in order to reduce the total capacity of the condenser, the movable plates of the auxiliary set will at first're-enter between the corresponding fixed plates of the auxiliary set and thereby increase the said total capacity instead of reducing the same. Consequently, in condensers of the said type the plate or plates for effecting the fine adjustment opcrate only between certain limits in such a manner, that when the rotary direction is reversed, immediate changes of capacity in opposite directions areefiected. Inmany cases, however, it may. be desired, that the minutely adjusting plate or plates efiect a 717,884, and in Sweden October 25, 19.23.

retroacting adjustment automatically in any position of the plates of the main set.

The present invention relates to a condenser arrangement which renders possible such an adjustment. The same arrangement may also be used in variable resistances and variometers.

To this end there is provided according to the invention apparatus for varying the ca- -'pacity or the resistance, etc., of an electric circuit, which apparatus includes a main portion comprising relatively movable ele* ments, an auxiliary portion comprisin elements which are relatively movable and also movable together, a lost motion device disposed between the elements of the auxiliary.

portion and a single operating member all so arranged, that, when the operating member is moved an element or elements of the said auxiliary portion are first moved to adjust the capacity or resistance, rite, of said auxiliary portion until the said lost motion has been taken up, whereupon continued movement of the operating member in the same direction will cause all the elements of the auxiliary portion to move as a whole while a relative shifting of the elements .of the coarse adjustment simultaneously is effected, movement of the operating member in the reverse direction then actuating onlyan element or elements of the auxiliary por-.

tion to efiect a fine retroacting adjustment. 7

by said auxiliary portion.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure 1 is a vertical section of a condenser, arrange Figure 2 is a side view of the plates of the, auxiliary or minor set of the condenser. Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically the invention applied to an adjustable resist-.

ance. Y 1

Figures 4 and 5 show in two sections perpendicular to one another a variometer provided with two turnable' conductors and ar-' ranged in accordance with this invention.

Figure 6 shows in a vertical section a modified. form of the said variometer.

Figure 7- shows in vertical longitudinal section and diagrammaticallyja variometer, provided with two slidable conductors and arranged in accordance with this invention. In Figs. 1 and 2 1 are the fixed lates of the main set and 2 are the rota-tab e plates thereof, fixedly mounted to a shaft 14. To the shaft 14 the plates 6 of the minor set are (provided with rotatable plates and in accordance with this invention.

also fixed. The spindle 8 is in contact with the frame 4 and between the spindle and a by means of arms 18 or the like fixed to the same, the plates 7, which co-operate with the plates 6 of the minor set. Plates 7 are fixed to rods 19 projecting from the said arms 18. Each plate 6 and 7 may comprise two quadrantslocated diametrically opposite each other, as shown in Figure 2. Plates 1 and 2 on the other hand may be semi-circular, as usual.

Assuming, that the plates 2 and 7 are situated entirely outside the spaces between the plates 1 and 6 respectively, it will be found that if the spindle 8 is rotated to the left, the plates 7, owing to the play between the coupling member 15 and the shaft 14, will firstly move into the spaces between the plates 6 and gradually increase the capacity of the apparatus. As the plates 7 have entered into the spaces between the plates 6 to their full extent, Figure 2, the said play has been spent, so that during the continued turning of the spindle 8 the shaft 14 together with the plates 2 and 6 partake in the motion of the spindle and the capacity is further increased by the plates 2, while the plates 6 and 7 move together and effect no change in the capacity. If then the. capacity has be? come too great, the spindle 8 is turned in the opposite direction and now instantly moves the plates 7 gradually out of the spaces between the plates 6, so that the capacity is reduced. f it is necessary to return the spindle 8 for such a distance, that. the plates 7 are moved out of the spaces be-' tween the plates 6 to their full extent, the spindle brings with it the plates 6 during the continued turning of it, while the plates 2 are moved gradually out of the spaces between the plates 1. If it is necessary to again turn the spindle to the left, a minute adjustment in the opposite direction will then be effected instantly by the plates 7. Conse uently, whichever position the plates 6 and% occupy a retroacting minute adjustment may instantly be effected by turning the spindle in opposite direction.

In the variable resistance, shown in Figure '3, 2O designates the main resistance, 21 the rotary contact lever of same, 22 a resistance for effecting a minute adjustment and 23' the movable contact lever of same. Lever 23 is fixed to a spindle .25 provided with a handle 24. Resistance 22 and lever 21 are.

' fixed to a short rotary shaft 26 and are electrieally connected with one ahother. A -(claw-) coupling, operating with a. certain esa-sea I amount of play, is provided between the spindle 25 and the shaft 26.

By rotating the spindle 25 the contact lever 23 may first be shifted and the resistance 22 adjusted. ,After the spindle 25 has been rotated through a sufficient angle, it rotates with it the resistance 22 and the contact lever 21, so that the resistance 20 is also adin an analogous manner. to variable resistances provided with slidable contact levers, as easily understood by those skilled in the art.

lVhen applying this invention to variometers the latter are provided, in addition to the ordinary turnable conductor, with a second turnable conductor, located, for in stance, inside the conductor first mentioned. Figures 4 and 5 show a variometer of the said construction. 27 is the frame of the variometer and 28 its fixed conductor. 29 is the rotor provided with the conductor 30. Inside the said rotor a second rotor 31 is located, provided with the conductor 32. Conductors 28, 30 and 32 are connected by flexible conductors in series or in parallel asmay be suitable in each case. Rotor 31 is fixed to a shaft 33, provided with a handle 34. The trunnions 35 and 36 of the rotor 29 are journalled in the frame 27. Trunnion 36 is tubular and the shaft 33 of the rotor '31 extends through the same. A clawcoupling 37, 38 is provided between the shaft 33 and the trunnion 36, which permits a play between the said shaft and trunnion, so that the conductors 30 and 32 may be adjusted simultaneously by means of the handle 34 or the conductor 32 may be shifted separately for effecting a fine adjustment.

The variometer shownin Figure 6 differs from the variometer shown in Figures 4 and 5 only by a substantially spoon-shaped metal plate 39 or the like being substituted sary manner. Conductor 30 and plate 39 may be adjusted in just the same manner as the conductors 30 and 32 shown in Figures 4 I and 5. Plate 39, when rotated, changes the inner capacity of the variometer and, consequently, 9150 the impedance of the.

. ductor 41. Garrier 42' is fixed to a shaft 47 A the limits of same.

slidable in a bearing 46 and extending into the tubular shaft of the carrier 44, which shaft 50 is slidable in a-beari'ng 48 and r0- vided with a handle 49. A pin 51, fixe to. the shaft 47, extends-into a lon itudinal slot 52 provided in the shaft 50. wing to the said connection between the shafts 47 and 50 the conductors 42 and 45 may be shifted by means of the handle, 49 simultaneously or the conductor 45 may be shifted alone for the effecting of a fine adjustment of the variometer. Conductors 43 and 45 may, if wanted, be slightly mounted one inside the other. v

The invention may obviously be modified in man respects withoutv departing from I claim:

1. Electrical controlling apparatus for telegraphy and telephony and comprising elements for a coarse adjustment and elements fora vfine adjustment of the same, the ele- I ments for the this adjustment being all mOvable, a lost motion device disposed between the elements of the fine adjustment, an operating member for shifting the elements of the vfine adjustment, so that after the fine adjustment has been brought to a maximum or minimum value respectively, dependent on the amount of the said 10st motion, the ele-' ments of the fine adjustment are caused to move as a whole, and means whereby the coarse adjustment is efiected by the said operating member after the said maximum or minimum amount has been gained.

2. In an adjustable condenser for telegraphyandtelephony the combination of a main portion comprising a set of fixed plates and aset o f movable plates, an auxiliary portion comprising two sets of plates, one set.

of plates of the auxiliary portion being connected with the movable plates of: the main portion, an operating member for shifting the second set of plates of the auxiliary portion, and a lost motion device disposed between the sets of lates of the auxiliary portion, so that by s ifting the said operating member the auxiliary portion is first brought to a maximum or minimum amount of adjustment respectively determined by the said lost motion and the plates of the auxiliary portion are then caused to move as a whole together with the movable plates of the main portion. v

In .witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

CLAUDE GUS TAP H'JALMAR delAVAli. 

